YAY for Big Brothers: Interactive Nonfiction At Its Best

Arbordale Publishing November, 2021

When author Janet Halfmann has a new picture book, I pay attention. Her titles range from powerful biographies to informational historical accounts intended for established readers, to lively and light text for the youngest readers and their families. Among these she has won numerous awards/stars and praise from reviewers, organizations, states, and countless readers/fans. I've reviewed and recommended several of these in prior posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

 

Halfmann has a unique ability to find and explore unknown or seldom told histories/stories, as well as recognizing original approaches to everyday topics. Here's what she says about the inspiration for this latest release, YAY FOR BIG BROTHERS! 

"I was inspired to write this book when our toddler grandson became a big brother. Becoming a big brother is not always easy, and I thought all big brothers needed a book to celebrate them." 

That thought led her to investigate big brothers in the wild, resulting in this colorful and clever nonfiction picture book by Arbordale, a publisher whose special benefit includes appealing nature books. This title and their others include four pages of excellent back matter, a section called CREATIVE MINDS, offering age-appropriate learning activities and glossaries, extended facts, and Q/A based on charts and tables provided. 

 

In this interactive text, Halfmann writes approachable and informative examples of animal families in which sibling behaviors have been observed, ones that mirror ways human big brothers (or sisters!) might act. Crows help feed younger broods, wolves teach pack patterns through play, Tamarin monkeys and beavers carry siblings on their backs, while naked mole rats and African Wild Dogs babysit and keep smaller ones safe. 

On each spread, the example provided includes a prompt question framed as: Do you..., What can..., How does... ?  All of these allow potentially NEW big brothers or sisters to predict and imagine how they will interact with a coming younger sibling. This will continue to be valuable as siblings grow together and share experiences during ensuing years. 

The bonus in this approach is the likelihood that this will spark enthusiastic curiosity about familiar and unusual animals, sending kids to the back matter and beyond to investigate. I can imagine them noticing and more closely observing animals in the wide world of nature.That thought led her to investigate big brothers in the wild, resulting in this colorful and clever nonfiction picture book by Arbordale, a publisher whose special benefit includes appealing nature books. This title and their others include four pages of excellent back matter, a section called CREATIVE MINDS, offering age-appropriate learning activities and glossaries, extended facts, and Q/A based on charts and  provided. 

In this interactive text, Halfmann writes approachable and informative examples of animal families in which sibling behaviors have been observed, ones that mirror ways human big brothers might act. Crows help feed younger broods, wolves teach pack patterns through play, Tamarin monkeys and beavers carry siblings on their backs, while naked mole rats and African Wild Dogs babysit and keep smaller ones safe. 

On each spread, the example provided includes a prompt question framed as : Do you..., What can..., How does... ?  All of these allow potentially NEW big brothers to predict and imagine how they will interact with a coming younger sibling, and continue to be valuable as they share experiences during ensuing years. The bonus in this approach is the likelihood that this will spark enthusiastic curiosity about familiar and unusual animals  (all mammals), sending kids to the back matter and beyond to investigate. I can imagine them noticing and more closely observing animals in the wide world of nature.

Arbordale Interior, 2021 (Shennon Bersani)

Halfmann's illustrator for this book is Shennen Bersani, who captures a wonderful blend of accurate details and interactions in portrayals of animals in natural habitats, suggesting many of the parallels to human behaviors reflected from the text. 

 

If you've ever pondered what kind of gift to take to a baby shower, or a birth gift, this should spring to mind in the future for any families in which the newcomer will have an older brother. Easing that sibling into the spotlight, providing a gift directed at them specifically, and valuing their adjustments and altered responsibilities are gifts in themselves.

 

Check out the details in the interactions of these Wild African Dogs.

                    Arbordale, Interior YAY FOR BIG BROTHERS (Shennon Bersani)

This delightful new offering (available in both English and Spanish) was due for release in September, but delays in supply chain and shipping are affecting the publishing industry across all genres. If this sounds like a book you need sooner rather than later, for a particular child or for potential needs to come, it can be preordered now and shipped immediately on its new release date, November 2, using this link to book sales.

Learn more about what's coming next (and past publishing successes!) with the following links:

Janet Halfmann website: https://www.janethalfmannauthor.com

On twitter: @Janet Halfmann

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janethalfmann